Page 11 of Love on the Brain
He sighed dramatically. “Yes, bestie. Sorry. I’m just disappointed Kat isn’t here to beat Damon at eight-ball again.”
“I swear I will beat that woman at least once before I die,” Damon vowed.
“You wanna wager on that?” JC waggled his eyebrows.
“Heck no!”
Ryan laughed. He’d had some fun nights in this garage, and it seemed the group had gotten even more tight-knit as it grew. Damon seemed like a perfect match for Shelby. She felt like a little sister to him because he’d known her since she was a kid. He was happy she’d found someone cheerful and charming to balance out her seriousness and sarcasm.
The missing couple arrived, and they all gathered around the vintage chrome table. Jane sat next to him, and as the game and conversation wore on, she relaxed more and more. They chatted lightly about Shelby and Damon’s upcoming wedding in Savannah, JC’s proposal to Caroline on the beach in Puerto Rico, and the blizzard forecasters were predicting the following week.
Later, when he dropped her off at home, Ryan walked her to her door and they hugged goodbye. He couldn’t help but think their time had seemed much like a date. An urge to kiss her under the porch light escaped from his subconscious, and he pushed it back immediately.
He loved Jane as a friend, a best friend. But as more? He couldn’t let his mind or heart wonder what that might be like. She was his best friend’s widow, and it wouldn’t be right. He wasn’t the type who moved in on his best friend’s girl, especially when she was at her most vulnerable.
CHAPTER4
Jane held Noah’s hand tightly as they stepped onto the escalator leading down to baggage claim. It had been a month since the botched biopsy, and she was glad there were only two more days until Ryan had his turn with the tumor.
“There they are!” Noah shouted, pointing to Connie and Dale waiting at the bottom with Jane’s mint-green luggage set. She and Noah had sat at the back of the plane, and it had taken forever to de-board. After a needed rush to the bathroom and getting a snack before making their way to the baggage area, she’d begun to wonder if their suitcases would even be on the carousel when they finally arrived.
Noah slipped his hand out of hers and ran to his grandparents. Dale hoisted him up into his arms, and Connie showered him with kisses. Jane smiled as she reached them, towing her carry-on, their winter jackets, and a tote bag stuffed with everything needed to help a little boy pass the time throughout the two separate legs of the trip.
After ten hours of traveling, she was exhausted. Noah, on the other hand, seemed to have gotten his second wind.
“Jane, dear,” Connie said, hugging her close. “My precious daughter-in-love.”
Jane smiled. Deprived of sleep when Noah was a newborn, Jane had misspoken and had introduced Connie to a friend as her mother-in-love. Connie had thought it was the cleverest thing and the term of endearment stuck. From that point on, Connie referred to Jane as her daughter-in-love. “Let’s get you two home, fed, and to bed.”
“And bathed. Plane germs,” Jane mumbled. She wanted a shower more than anything.
“Aw, Mommy, I don’twanta bath. I wanna play race cars with Poppy!” Noah whined.
Dale shot her a wink, then tousled Noah’s hair. “The racetrack is in the basement, all boxed up. We’ll have to put it together tomorrow, okay? We’ve got all day to play before the big Super Bowl party at the church.”
“Which we are leaving at halftime,” Connie gently reminded him.
“Okay,” Noah mumbled. “Can you carry me to the car? I’m tired.” He laid his head on Dale’s shoulders, and Jane’s heart warmed, grateful for Noah’s relationship with his faraway grandparents. When Casey died, Jane hadn’t had the funds to keep going to Austin three times a year. Dale and Connie came to visit when they could, but they both still worked full-time and volunteered at the church. Thanks to video chatting, though, Noah spoke to them at least once a week.
“Be happy to, kiddo,” Dale said, shifting Noah so that he could tow Jane’s large suitcase.
“I can get that,” Jane said, reaching for it.
“I got it.” Jane glanced at him uncertainly but didn’t argue. Connie beat her to the medium suitcase, and Jane was forced to accept their help.
“We may need to adjust the buckles on your car seat, Noah,” Connie said. “I think you’ve grown quite a bit since you visited last summer.”
“I’m five now,” he said simply, with a yawn. “I’m the biggest kid in my class.”
Connie laughed. “Yes, I saw your class picture. Your daddy was tall, too. Six feet and an inch. Ryan is even taller.” They reached the car, and Connie opened the passenger-side back door for Dale. He set Noah into the seat and buckled him in.
Jane went around to the trunk and loaded the suitcases. She’d keep their jackets in the car. The parking garage was chilly. Probably best to drape Noah’s coat over him until the heat in the vehicle came on.
Dale and Connie chatted with Noah on the ride to their home in the suburbs on the outskirts of the city. Jane gazed out the window, taking in the dark shapes of the city skyline giving way to fields and farmland.
When they pulled into the driveway, Jane was surprised to see Ryan’s old F-250 in the driveway of his parents’ house next door and even more surprised when he exited the house and jogged to the trunk to help with the luggage. It was nice of him to come check on Noah. Her heart gave a little flutter at his compassion.
“Uncle Ryan’s here!” Noah exclaimed, unbuckling the chest straps on his booster. “Mommy, can you get the bottom button? Hurry!”
